Editing 3 MiniDV files into one AVI then output to DVD

[Dazzled]

Hi - wondering if anyone could help me.

I have 3 captured MiniDV files on cassette, they contain footage taken from 3 different camcorders during a friends wedding that I went to recently. Now I need to combine all the 3 pieces of footage from the MiniDV tapes and edit it and output it onto 1 DVD in the order of events that happened during the wedding. (i.e. I don't want a scene of the Bride-to-be arriving, to be shown after say the 'best mans speech'. So it will mean a lot of cutting and pasting different parts into the one main file.

Is this possible to do? And if so what's the best software to use to do this? All in all it will equate to around 40-50 mins of footage.

Thanks for any guidance you can provide me.

[edDV]

Hi - wondering if anyone could help me.

I have 3 captured MiniDV files on cassette, they contain footage taken from 3 different camcorders during a friends wedding that I went to recently. Now I need to combine all the 3 pieces of footage from the MiniDV tapes and edit it and output it onto 1 DVD in the order of events that happened during the wedding. (i.e. I don't want a scene of the Bride-to-be arriving, to be shown after say the 'best mans speech'. So it will mean a lot of cutting and pasting different parts into the one main file.

Is this possible to do? And if so what's the best software to use to do this? All in all it will equate to around 40-50 mins of footage.

Thanks for any guidance you can provide me.

Sure this is done all the time. Consumer programs like Adobe Premiere Elements, ULead Video Studio or Sony Vegas Movie Studio can be used. Serious wedding videographers will use the prosumer versions of those products.

The big issue will be matching the look of the three camcoders before you start cutting their images together. That is where the "color correction" and levels filtering features of the prosumer programs become useful but you may not be up to the learning curve. Consider handing this project off to a semi-pro that has those skills after you specify the desired shot sequence.

Otherwise do the best you can with the consumer programs.

[Dazzled]

Cheers edDV - Well I've got Adobe Premier Elements and Adobe Premier Pro 1.5. So I just go file open and then load all 3 AVI files into my project? And then cut and paste parts from each of the files into a new project?

[edDV]

Cheers edDV - Well I've got Adobe Premier Elements and Adobe Premier Pro 1.5. So I just go file open and then load all 3 AVI files into my project? And then cut and paste parts from each of the files into a new project?

Yes you do. Hopefully the files were transferred over IEEE-1394 at full quality.

Start with Elements. Go through the tutorials first.

Expect Premiere Pro to be tough to learn. For most it takes years to master. I started using it over 10 years ago and have probably reached 35% proficient.

[daamon]

I started using it over 10 years ago and have probably reached 35% proficient.

You're too modest...

@ Dazzled: I know you've already settled for a video editor, but there are free ones out there too that you might want to check out. Avid Free DV is regularly recommended, though I've never used it personally. Good luck...

[edDV]

I started using it over 10 years ago and have probably reached 35% proficient.

You're too modest...

Naw, you just settle into what works for you. The rest is more trouble than worth or I never found a use.